The Dream Match - Pacman vs Golden Boy

    Recognized for its innovative marketing approach to top tier events, HBO Pay-Per-View has proposed a non-traditional interactive strategy for the December 6th De La Hoya-Pacquiao event to allow sports fan everywhere to take on the event. This December 7, 2008(Philippine time) battle between Pacman and Golden Boy is known to be the dream match of the year. This could be another holiday for all the boxing fanatics specially the pro Pacquiao. This is the only time where all Filipinos are uniting as one. One dream…One heart…One mind…That is to win the greatest battle of Manny ‘PACMAN’ Pacquiao. He is considered as the hero of Filipino masses. Only this boxing hero can unite all Filipinos out there for one cause. Some say the dream match is a mismatch. Some say it is a circus. De La Hoya is a steady fighter for 147 lbs while Paquiao climbs up from 135 lbs in his last fight with David Diaz to attain the target weight and meet the Golden Boy in this December 6 battle.

     Manny Pacquiao is the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win four world titles in different weight divisions. He took over as the Ring Magazine pound for pound number one ranked boxer in the world on June 9, 2008 after ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather, Jr. announced his retirement from boxing to concentrate on another career. Pacman initiated his professional boxing vocation in 1995 at 106 lbs (Light flyweight) when he was 16. His early fights usually took place in undersized venues and were shown on Vintage Sports’ Blow by Blow. His professional debut was a 4-round bout against Edmund Enting Ignacio on January 22, 1995, where Pacquiao won via decision and instantly became a star of the program.

     On the other hand, a superstar whose reputation excels boxing, Oscar De La Hoya is considered to be one of the best fighters in the world at any weight - “Pound-for-Pound.” He is as well the biggest non-heavyweight charm and moneymaker at the gate, defeating 19 current or former world champions, one twice, in the process. On May 5, 2007, Golden Boy returned to the ring in one of the most highly anticipated bouts of the last 25 years when he battled Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, and though he lost a hard-fought and close 12 round split decision, De La Hoya’s status as an elite fighter was untouched, and his box office power was cemented forever as the bout set records for pay-per-view buys and revenue generated in the state of Nevada. Almost everybody I guessed watched the said match and really expecting the golden Boy to win the match. Though, I have a Mexican friend who favors ‘Pretty Boy’ to win that May 5 battle and she made it.

    Oscar has been successful at the soaring levels of competition, and has beaten current or former world champions Steve Forbes Ricardo Mayorga, Felix Sturm, Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whitaker, Arturo Gatti, Ike Quartey, Julio Cesar Chavez twice, Hector Camacho, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, James Leija, Genaro Hernandez, Rafael Ruelas, John John Molina, Jorge Paez, Javier Francisco Castillejo, Yory Boy Campas, Jimmi Bredahl and Troy Dorsey. I guess Manny Pacquiao will not be included in this list.

Filipinos can’t wait any longer with this dream match happening in Dec. 6, 2008 (Dec. 7, 2008 Phil Time). Cinemas nationwide will be opened for public exclusively showing the match between these two great fighters.

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. and Top Rank, Inc., presented by Tequila Cazadores and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWalt Tools, Full Throttle Energy Drink and Southwest Airlines. De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao, a 12-round welterweight battle, will take place Saturday, Dec. 6 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.